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14K Gold & Bakelite Art Deco Cigar Holder

14K Gold & Bakelite Art Deco Cigar Holder
Photo Credit: bigsmile_treasures

14K Gold & Bakelite Art Deco Cigar Holder

Buy It Now Price: $395 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Sumptuous 14 karat gold and amber-yellow Bakelite seamlessly blend in this chic 1920s Art Deco cigar holder and case combination.

-The case measures 45 mm (1.77 inches) long (including the bail) and weighs a substantial 8.5 grams (excluding the cigar holder).

–Vintage cigar holders were important fashion accessories during the early to mid 20th century.  But they also served two practical purposes.  They prevented nicotine staining of the fingers and kept smoke out of the user’s face.

-Patented in 1909, Bakelite was the world’s first synthetic plastic.  For the first few decades after its invention, Bakelite was considered a premium luxury material appropriate for use in high value objects like jewelry.  In this Art Deco cigar holder, Bakelite is being used to imitate amber – a popular material for high end cigar holders of the time.

-The bail at the bottom of this Art Deco cigar holder’s case indicates that it was probably intended to be hung from a woman’s neck as a pendant.

-My best guess is that this Art Deco cigar holder and case contain around 0.16 troy ounces (5 grams) of pure gold.  With the price of gold trading near $1,314, this gives the piece a scrap value close to $210 – a premium of only 88% over melt.  Although you would never want to scrap such a beautiful piece, the low premium over melt clearly limits investment risk.

-Smoking was a way for women in the 1920s to signal their independence and avant-garde social outlook.  But what’s interesting about this piece is that I believe it was intended for a female cigar smoker.  Why is this meaningful?  In the Roaring 20s, bad girls smoked cigarettes, but really bad girls smoked cigars!

-I love the linear pin-stripe decoration on this vintage gold cigar case.  It is quintessentially Art Deco and perfectly reflects the zeitgeist of the age.  Combine that with the item’s excellent condition and you have yourself an investment grade antique!

–Tobacciana is a burgeoning niche in the world of antiques, and this superlative Art Deco cigar holder and case duo are about as good as it gets.

-I find the buy-it-now price of $395 for this vintage Art Deco cigar holder to be extremely compelling.  However, you can always make the seller a lower offer if you want to take a chance on getting this treasure for an even better price.

 

Cons:

-Unless you are a cigar smoker, this item is purely a curio or objet d’art.  Honestly, I find this to be a very minor drawback, but worth mentioning nonetheless.

 

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1969 Bulova Snorkel Diver Stainless Steel Wristwatch

1969 Bulova Snorkel Diver Stainless Steel Wristwatch
Photo Credit: savethetreestoday

1969 Bulova Snorkel Diver Stainless Steel Wristwatch

Buy It Now Price: $595 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This vintage Bulova Snorkel diver wristwatch sports a champagne enamel dial, stainless steel case, tritium lume and a timeless stylistic sensibility.

-This 1960s dive watch measures 35 mm (1.38 inches) wide when excluding the crown, and a chunky 11 mm (0.43 inches) in thickness.

-Bulova was originally a New York City jewelry store that began selling table clocks and pocket watches in 1911.  After strong sales, the firm very quickly branched into watch manufacturing.  Unlike other large American watchmakers of the 20th century, many of Bulova’s movements (like the 11BLACD found in this Bulova Snorkel Diver) were imported from Switzerland instead of being domestically produced.

-Both the case and movement of this vintage Bulova watch can be definitively dated to 1969.  This is because Bulova used an alpha-numeric date code system during this time.  In this instance, “M9” was separately stamped on the case and movement, indicating the year 1969.

-Bulova fist introduced its Snorkel diver in 1961.  After being redesigned in the late 1960s to withstand pressure to a depth of 666 feet (203 meters), it was rebranded as the Oceanographer Snorkel.  Because of the Biblical connotations of its 666 foot depth rating, the Bulova Snorkel is sometimes referred to as the “Devil Diver”.

-This vintage dive watch features a 17-jewel, Bulova 11BLACD automatic movement.  This Swiss-made workhorse caliber had a date function and was produced from 1968 to 1970.  The 11BLACD was not a particularly high-end movement, but nonetheless had a good reputation for robustness and longevity.

-This Bulova Snorkel diver is quadruple signed, which is a good indicator of originality.  Quadruple signed means the watch has the Bulova name emblazoned on the dial, crown, case and movement.

-In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Bulova Oceanographer/Snorkel wristwatches typically retailed for between $60 and $100.  After adjusting for inflation, this would be the equivalent of $423 to $706 in 2019 dollars.

-Given the dramatic price increases that vintage chronograph wristwatches have experienced over the past several years, vintage diver watches are relative bargains.

-I love the classic design language of this Bulova Snorkel diver.  Because they are simultaneously sporty and masculine, dive watches are the natural fashion choice for many men.  And this Bulova does it better than most, making it a great addition to your watch collection at only $595.

 

Cons:

-This Bulova Snorkel diver is not in pristine condition, which lowers its desirability somewhat.  However, it has what I consider to be good, honest wear coupled with a nice patina.  This is an excellent sign that the watch is completely original – a tremendous benefit when Frankenwatches abound.

-Curiously, this Bulova Snorkel diver is not labeled on the case or dial as being waterproof.  This is a bit unusual, as diving was the raison d’être of Snorkel watches.  But Bulova made a tremendous number of Snorkel variations throughout the 1960s and 1970s.  In addition, all of its parts – from the dial to the case to the movement – are period correct as far as I can tell.  I suspect that this vintage Bulova is just an obscure, limited production Snorkel model.

-The seller has explicitly stated that he has not serviced this watch.  Expect to pay $100 to $300 for a professional servicing after you buy it.

 

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18K Gold Retro Cufflinks with Rubies and Sapphires

18K Gold Retro Cufflinks with Rubies and Sapphires
Photo Credit: Bottom-Fisher Finds

18K Gold Retro Cufflinks with Rubies and Sapphires

Buy It Now Price: $684.95 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-These 1950s Retro cufflinks are beautifully crafted from textured 18 karat yellow gold and set with natural, untreated rubies and sapphires.

-Each cufflink measures 0.69 inches (17 mm) long by 0.44 inches (11 mm) wide, while the pair tip the scales at a hefty 9.5 grams (0.3054 troy ounces).

-Retro jewelry was popular from the late 1930s into the 1950s.  It was characterized by bright, bold looks, multi-colored gold and a willingness to forgo diamonds in order to experiment with less expensive gemstones (like citrines, aquamarines and topazes).

-The rubies and sapphires set in these cufflinks are undoubtedly completely natural, untreated stones.  We know this because the cufflinks were made in the late 1940s or early 1950s, before corundum treatments became widespread in the 1970s.  Furthermore, the inclusions (flaws) visible in the stones are absolutely typical of natural ruby/sapphire gems.

-Important jewelry designers and fashion houses showed a renewed interest in naturalism starting in the late 1940s.  This was notable because naturalism had long been neglected in the jewelry world up until that point – more or less since the abandonment of the Art Nouveau and Edwardian styles around 1910.

-These Retro cufflinks display extremely fine workmanship, an attribute that is harder to find in fine jewelry than you might suspect.  In addition, they are also quite heavy, indicating that the jeweler who created them did not skimp on the gold.

-Natural, untreated rubies and sapphires are extremely rare today.  Most of these gems are heat-treated, flux-filled, beryllium diffused, dyed or otherwise modified to improve their appearance.  It is estimated that less than 1% of gem quality ruby production remains completely untreated before being set in jewelry!

-This pair of retro cufflinks exhibit classic 1950s design.  They combine naturalistic flower motifs and matte-finish yellow gold with eye-catching colored gemstones to form an aesthetically cohesive whole.

-I estimate the weight of the rubies and sapphires set in the front of these Retro cufflinks at 0.20 carats each and the rubies set in the back at 0.13 carats each.  As a result, the total estimated carat weight of gems contained in the piece is a substantial 1.06 carats.

-I believe the intrinsic value of these cufflinks is around $291 for the gold (with gold trading at $1,300 an ounce) and $106 for the gems (at about $100 per carat, conservatively).  This gives a total scrap value of roughly $400, which means that the seller’s asking price of $685 is less than double the intrinsic value – quite a bargain in my opinion.

-These solid 18 karat gold Retro cufflinks would make a great addition to any gentleman’s formal wardrobe, while simultaneously being a great tangible investment.

 

Cons:

-These cufflinks are not hallmarked.  Instead, the metal fineness has been verified by the seller via an acid test.  However, there is nothing in the photos that would lead me to believe that this jewelry is anything other than solid 18 karat gold.  They really are incredibly well-made.

-The natural rubies and sapphires set in these Retro cufflinks are of good, but not the very highest, quality.  You can tell by the numerous flaws which are readily apparent in the stones.  However, these rubies and sapphires are still valuable because they are completely untreated – a rarity in today’s gem market.

 

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2018 Mexican Silver Libertad Reverse Proof Set

2018 Mexican Silver Libertad Reverse Proof Set
Photo Credit: APMEX

2018 Mexican Silver Libertad Reverse Proof Set

Buy It Now Price: $208.32 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This superb 2018 Mexican Silver Libertad reverse proof set contains two one troy ounce coins: a standard proof version and its highly coveted, reverse proof twin.

-Each of the one troy ounce Mexican Silver Libertads in this set measure an impressive 40.0 mm (1.57 inches) in diameter.

-The coins’ obverse bear the 10 historical Mexican coat of arms.  The reverse shows the winged Greek personification of victory, Nike, against the backdrop of the famous Mexican volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl.

-A proof coin is struck from specially prepared dies under ideal conditions.  This creates a nearly perfect coin that has a desirable cameo effect, consisting of frosted devices set against high-contrast, mirrored fields.

-The rendition of the goddess Nike on this Mexican Silver Libertad reverse proof set is based on the landmark Angel of Independence statue located in central Mexico City.  It is widely considered to be among the most beautiful coin designs currently in production anywhere in the world.

-Reverse proofs are relative newcomers to the numismatic world, having first come to prominence in the mid-2000s.  The dies of a reverse proof are treated in such a way that the traditional proof effect is reversed, with mirrored devices set against frosted fields.

-This Mexican Silver Libertad reverse proof set is limited to just 500 sets.  The overall mintage of 2018 proof Mexican Silver Libertads is correspondingly low, with a total mintage of 10,000 specimens for the standard proof coin and a mere 1,500 for the reverse proof version (inclusive of the 500 sited above).

-This Mexican Silver Libertad reverse proof set comes in its original brushed metal and hardwood Banco de Mexico case.  I have long felt that good packaging positively impacts the future investment performance of modern coins, and this stylish contemporary case is among the best.

-The mintage numbers of these attractive silver coins are ridiculously low for a modern proof coin.  As a point of reference, the popular U.S.-issued American silver Eagle coin has a 2018 proof mintage of around 500,000 specimens.

-This Mexican Silver Libertad reverse proof set is exclusively distributed through the well-known bullion dealer APMEX.  You cannot get this unique set from any other precious metal dealer.

-Given their incredibly low mintages, stunningly good looks and modest pricing, I believe that Mexican Silver Libertad proof sets – much like their Gold Libertad proof counterparts – offer a credible investment opportunity to today’s intelligent tangible asset investor.

 

Cons:

-This 2018 Mexican Silver Libertad reverse proof set only contains 2 troy ounces of silver, resulting in an intrinsic value of around $30 (with the spot price of silver hovering near $15 an ounce).  At a buy-it-now price of $208, this means the set has a very high premium over its melt value – almost 600%.  These are definitely collector-oriented coins, as opposed to pure bullion pieces.

 

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